Bracketology

ESPN's Joe Lunardi released a new Bracketology today.

The 1 seeds are easy to pick: UNC, UConn, Pitt and Oklahoma.

Here's the rest.

Gardner-Webb's Causing Trouble Again ...

Thanks to Blake Griffin's 35 points and 21 rebounds, Oklahoma barely squeaked out an 80-76 win against Gardner-Webb today. I have a feeling there will be lots of posts about big Griffin outputs.

Elsewhere
-- I would've said this regardless of URI's performance at Duke, but the Runnin' Rams take on ... the Runnin' Rams ... of VCU today. It's closing in on the final buzzer. Been a good one so far.

-- Other goodies still left: Clemson at Charlotte, UW-Milwaukee at Marquette (always a good one) and Oregon State at Nevada.

-- Boy, Mercer is tough. Georgia Tech had some trouble with the Bears. Mercer led, 58-40, with 12 minutes left before the Jackets came storming back to win in OT. How's that for an encore?

-- Rick Majerus and company got a nice win against Boston College today.

-- Providence has two wins in a row now after a devastating loss to Northeastern to start the season.

-- DeJuan Blair had 20 points and 16 rebounds ... at halftime ... in Pitt's 86-60 victory against Indiana (Pa.). Big Fella Blair finished with 27 and 19, and he was 13 of 14 from the floor. Nasty.

-- And Bryant has its first win as a Division I program, a 59-50 thriller against Quinnipiac.

Seriously, Kid Is Nasty

I told you to watch Oklahoma-Davidson. Did you?

If you did, great decision.

If you didn't, you missed Stephen Curry put on a show. The Baby-Faced Assassin had 44 points on an off night ... and Davidson still lost. The Wildcats were behind by as many as 21 in the second half, but stormed back with two runs of 14-0 and 16-5. Free throws and a turnover on the last possession did Davidson in.

And don't forget the winning team. You can thank Blake Griffin, who had 25 points and 21 rebounds, for helping the Sooners get the home win. After all, Griffin's supposed to be the top pick in the Draft next year, right? He sure played like it. Griffin and Curry are two of the top three players in the country. What a treat it was to watch their teams battle this early in the season.

Final score: Oklahoma 82, Davidson 78. Instant Classic.

Forget UNC-Kentucky

You should be watching Davidson-Oklahoma on ESPN 2. Do it.

Rainy Saturday Quick Hits

That man up top -- the Godfather of Basketball, Rick Pitino -- is not walking through that door in Lexington. (He's walking through another door a few hours away, actually, coaching a team that', dare I say, good.) And you have to wonder if anyone in Kentucky basketball world is wishing Rick was ambling into Rupp Arena, because the Wildcats got off to another terrible start, this time losing to VMI, 111-103.

Not even kidding. VMI.

-- Does this really surprise you? Have you seen Nick Calathes? Plus, he plays for Florida, so it figures.

-- UNC topped Penn, 86-71, today. I know you were holding your breath.

-- Really? Davidson dropped 107 points?

-- Pitt took care of business, so did UConn, Texas, Purdue, Oklahoma and Arizona State. Buzz Williams is 1-0 at Marquette. Florida, Wake and 'Nova got off on the right track, too.

-- Just wondering: Is VMI a bubble team now? Kentucky certainly is.